Civic Engagement on the Menu: A Fall 2025 Pizza and Politics Recap
December 29, 2025 - Features
by Allison Moser | Pizza & Politics Coordinator
Dole Institute workers pose for a photo ahead of the first Pizza and Politics of the fall semester. Photo by Kenna McNally.
Pizza and Politics is a program series focused on making civil and political discussions engaging and accessible for KU students. Throughout the semester, experts are brought in to discuss a timely issue and connect it back to the student body. Students of all areas of study are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and enjoy some free pizza!
The fall 2025 Pizza & Politics programming kicked off with “Where Do Democrats Go From Here?” on Sept. 19. Students were joined by Marlon Marshall, former senior member of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign team and former Deputy National Field Director for President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. Marlong drew on his experience in the field to help students understand this unique time for party politics. Marlon delved into how party leadership functions and the various strategies available for Democrats as they work to rebuild ahead of the 2026 midterms. Nearly 50 students were in attendance, with many asking questions at the end of the program.
Nearly 50 students gather in the Alderson Auditorium of the Kansas Union for the first Pizza & Politics of the fall semester. Photo by Kenna McNally.
The second program of the semester, “The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid,” featured former Director of Public Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee Ken Sofer. At a time when foreign aid policy has been brought into the spotlight, Ken was able to break down this complex topic. He explained the differences in types of aid, as well as arguments for and against cutting foreign aid programs. Students were eager to engage with this topic, asking questions about privatized interventions and how foreign aid policy functions in active conflicts. This event brought many new global and international studies students to the Dole Institute, illustrating the intersection between global health and domestic politics.
Ken Sofer, right, answers a question about the role of foreign aid. Photo by Kenna McNally.
The final Pizza & Politics of the fall semester was held on Nov. 7, and asked the question “Should Kansans Elect State Supreme Court Justices?” Students were joined by Jack Harvel, a Statehouse Reporter at the Topeka Capital Journal, for the insights and conversation. This program focused on informing students of the constitutional amendment that Kansas voters will see on their ballots in August 2026. Students learned about the current nominating system for state Supreme Court justices, the variety of stances on the issue, and the potential outcomes and impacts of the vote. Many students asked questions about how the justices of other states’ Supreme Courts are appointed and how this could affect state politics.
Allison Moser serves as the Pizza and Politics Coordinator at the Dole Institute of Politics. In her role, AJ hosts discussions with local experts to promote civic discussion and political engagement at the University of Kansas. She is in her third year as an environmental studies, political science, and global and international studies student on the pre-law track.
About the Dole Institute
Inspired by the leadership legacies of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and the enduring civic contributions of the Greatest Generation, the Dole Institute of Politics strives to promote a new era of leadership that uses politics to bring people together through opportunities that emphasize bipartisan cooperation, public service, and civic education and engagement.
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